Day Numbers I Already Lost Track.....

Where to start?? We are safely and soundly in Phuket, Thailand!! We arrived yesterday around 1pm their time. The flight from Hong Kong to Phuket was only 3 hours, but a little brutal in terms of the crazy people on board. Thank god I booked a cab through Tiger Muay Thai well in advance, and he was waiting for us upon arrival. We walked outside of Phuket International Airport to my dream weather....95 degrees, humid, and sultry. In essence, I had died and gone to heaven. I had also died and gone to heaven because I have been dreaming about coming to this very place literally for the past 5 years. It was very surreal.

It took us about 45 minutes by car to get to our destination of Cocoville, where we were staying. On the way while debating whether or not to rent motorbikes while here, Ann and I witnessed some poor motorbiker literally get t-boned by a Honda. Not good! The driving here is pretty insane, so I guess we'll pony up the extra money for cabs and get driven around.

Our bungalow is pretty sweet. But it is the surroundings that are so amazing. Lush tropical plants and flowers that smack you in the face with their amazing scent as soon as you start down the pathway. Tropical birds and bugs making noise, and a rooster family next door make for delightful neighbors. Not to mention the neighbor cats coming to hang on our porch. It's simply put, heaven, and everything and more that I thought it would be. The pool 15 yards out the door doesn't hurt either :)

So after we got settled and changed into hot as hell weather clothes, we explored our area a bit. Muay Thai camps EVERYWHERE. See above reference to Heaven. This has to be it. Ann and I both bought a week of training at Tiger Muay Thai, about a 1/4 mile down the street, but I also plan on trying out Dragon Muay Thai and another gym as well, just because I can!!! Total kid in the candy store as well, because the gear, gloves, and shorts here are amazing and super cheap, I'm in huge trouble.

We had an amazing dinner that evening at Cocoville, where we are staying, best Thai food ever. I also met up with a friend I made over the wonders of social media who is also staying and training here, Ash. She is from New Zealand and we have been chatting for a couple of months, as she has been here since September. Very cool person, and it was great to have a contact here whom we could ask questions to!! We went to bed pretty early because we were so exhausted, which was bittersweet because there were Muay Thai fights not too far from where we were staying and Cocoville was giving away tickets. I have a feeling there will be more of those however :)

On Saturday morning, we had another amazing breakfast at Cocoville. In my short years of traveling I have come to realize that the food in other countries is the following: amazing, fresher, smaller portions, tastier, amazing. My continued frustration with the U.S. continues!!!

After breakfast we decided we needed supplies!!!! So we hired a cab to transport us to Tesco, the biggest grocery store EVER!!!! We stocked up big time! Coffee, tea, water, snacks, thai beer (hello), towels, a diving mask that I subsequently broke within 15 minutes of being home, and other cool things. Some pictures will be below. One is of this amazing fruit called Dragon Fruit. Another is of their awesome toilet paper, Zilk!!!!

It seriously is the coolest place ever, and I am having the absolute time of my life. Tonight we may go to this thing called Night Market, which seems to be a big deal, and tomorrow, maybe one of the popular beaches here in the Phuket area.

Other pictures include a very cool sushi place near the Tesco, which features sushi on conveyer belts!!! What?!?!?!? And Ronald McDonald in the traditional "wai" pose, which is a sign of respect and greeting in this country. We are learning the basics of the language, which, being the perfectionist that I am, wish I could speak fluently. Ann seems to be picking up on it quicker. So I'll let her do the talking. And finally, the awesome thai beer. We have a decent sized fridge, so it is stocked with water, beer, and some interesting juices. Super fun. Now we are headed to the pool!!!!! Will post more soon!!!!